These are some of the birds I managed to photograph at Bangaram and Tinnakara islands in Lakshadweep -
click here
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| Bangaram Islands, Lakshadweep! |
Situated in the Arabian Sea between 220 and 440 kms from Kochi, Lakshadweep is the tiniest Union Territory of India consisting of 36 islands, 12 atolls, 3 reefs and 5 submerged banks. The islands have a total area of 32 sq.kms. Only 10 of these islands namely, Agatti, Amini, Andrott, Bitra, Chetlat, Kadmat, Kalpeni, Kavaratti, Kiltan and Minicoy are inhabited. Kavaratti is the Administrative Headquarters of the Union Territory. The islands are restricted area and permit from the Administration is required to visit the islands. However permit formalities of tourists are taken care by the SPORTS.
I was in Kochi, Kerala, in December 2015 and decided to visit the “Society for Promotion of Nature Tourism and Sports - SPORTS” office on Willingdon Island. I was offered a neat brochure with details of tourism in Lakshadweep.
I learnt that if you are to enter Lakshadweep as a tourist, you have to go through “SPORTS”. All details can be found on their website –>
SPORTS. All interactions, including booking of tents and permit letters can be done via email!
So we planned a visit! This time, my wife and son and my good friend Sanjeev and his wife Geeta were with me. We sent a request email to “laksports.reservation@gmail.com”, got a quote, filled a form, transferred the money, got booking confirmation and the permit letter all on email!!
As a tourist you will have an option to stay on multiple islands. Do check while booking if you want to do so. We stayed at Bangaram Islands from 6th of Feb 2016 to 11th Feb 2016. Too much fun! An Air India flight leaves Bengaluru every morning (except Sundays) at 8.15 am and after a hop in Kochi, arrives at Agatti Islands in Lakshadweep 11.30 am! Easy! A boat is waiting and an hour later you are in Bangaram – Paradise!
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| View from our tent! |
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| Ruddy Turnstones are quite common on Bangaram... |
Thousands of crabs live on the beach cleaning up everything...
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| The locals enjoy their catch... |
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| Outdoor kitchen... |
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| Yummy food! |
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| Bird food! |
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| Photographing birds.... |
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| They do not allow close approach... |
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| At high tide the birds sit... |
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| Quite common around Bangaram... |
There are a few mosquitos at Bangaram. Did not bother us much. Carry repellants. The toilet is very basic. The water smells Sulphuric, irratating but harmless.
The staff at Bangaram are very helpful and friendly. Give a day to get acclimatised and you will feel very comfortable.
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| Tent |
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| Tents... |
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| Bottled water is offered for drinking! |
Bangaram is also very famous for scuba-diving and other water sports like snorkelling, Kayaking, wind surfing and lagoon fishing! Do indulge...
The location is breathtaking! Blue, blue and more blue! Bangaram is an uninhabited island of 120 acres in the middle of the ocean. I do not have words to describe the feeling, just go and experience it yourself! Please!!
Bangaram is also unique due to the fact that it hosts a large fresh water lake in the middle! Over 150 species of birds have been recorded at Bangaram! I was very happy to shoot a few of them for my “Indiabirds” collection!
The accommodation at Bangaram is made up of 13 basic tents. That is it. The privacy is mindboggling! The food is simple and refreshing. Life was meant to be like this…
Vijay Cavale
February, 2016
